GERD? back of the thorat

about a few months ago, I noticed a sore throat that wasn't going away. Traditionally, I would just wait it out if it were a simple cold but this wasn't going away. It kept getting worse and worse, despite getting adequate amounts of rest. I decided to cut back on the diet cokes (drank about 1-1.5L/day) but didn't drink coffee or alcohol. It helped out tremendously and felt better after taking TUMS and Ranitidine. I thought it was a simple problem that would disappear after abstaining from further caffeine. I waited about a month and decided to take caffeine one more time and the throat burning returned with only a modest amount of caffeine consumption. Since then, I've taken one 150mg ranitidine tablet before any caffeine beverage.

However, two weeks ago I got a cold and the sore throat which hasn't disappeared. It's been unresponsive to Rantidine and thought it was a lingering cold. My doctor said my breathing was fine but has taken swaps. I am a bit confused and worried it can be something more serious -- possibly esophageal cancer. I am inclined to get it scoped but don't want ot do any hasty in a panicked mindset.

I am posting here to figure out if anyone has gone through this and how much of a problem it would be.

It's best to go ahead and get scoped and get your answers. Tell your doctor to do it under IV sedation so it is less stressful. A BRAVO test can be done at the same time (it measures acid in your throat). Hang in there, there is a solution.

Welcome,
Joy

Hi, Blowe46,
Welcome to the GERD forum of Healing Well. I'm new in this forum, having recently been diagnosed with Barrett's through an endoscopy. I had been having heartburn for a few months, but had also been eating a lot of chocolate. I stopped the chocolate, the heartburn improved but didn't go away, so since I was losing my health insurance I went to a GI to have it checked out. I was quite surprised to learn of this Barrett's thing! And I am still learning, so I'm not the one who can offer a lot of information (I spend most of my time on the Chronic Pain section). But if you search older threads I bet you'll find a lot of what you're looking for.

My guess is your doctor will decide from your symptoms whether to do an endoscopy or put you on some other meds and wait. Either way, it's good you're getting checked.

Yes, they can take tissue to biopsy while doing the endoscopy (just like they can if they remove polyps from your colon). I think the doctor can have some idea if it's Barrett's from looking at the color of the tissue in the esophagus, but it needs to be confirmed from lab work from everything I've read. Then the tissue is biopsied. It doesn't necessarily have to be esophageal cancer. You can have no cell changes, mild changes (dysplasia), indefinite findings, or high dysplasia. The latter is more likely to indicate the presence of cancer. So you've got a ways to go in the diagnostic ladder, I would think.

Since I'm just learning, I'm not sure about the genetics of esophageal cancer.

You probably could start looking at other aspects of your diet, as it seems pretty much everyone here has to reduce or elimiinate a lot of foods. And not eat 3 hours before bedtime (that's the tough one for me!).

Hope this helps a big.

Again, welcome.

PaLady

I have been diagnosed with GERD. One of my symtoms has beena constant sore throat. I also have to clear my throat alot. It seems the symptoms keep getting worse. The medications have never been much help. My surgeon is setting me up with surgery providing I loose enough weight. Don't put off the testing it is best to get the tests to see what is happening and figure what treatment will be best. We are all here for you. The scope was not bad considering I was under IV sedation. I barely remember the procedure. Definitely watch eatting to near bedtime when i forget and eat right before I go to bad my tummy reminds me of the error. I work the evening shift and sometimes we get so busy that I don't have time to eat so when I get home i have a late supper. Have not had that problem lately since for my evening meal I drink a meal replacement drink. Let us know how everything is going.


Marie I keep getting more and more respiratory infections which my doctor said is related to my GERD. The medications have not worked for me and after 3+ years of trying differant ones they are finally going through with the surgery.

Mary